Dental implants are now the preferred solution when it comes to addressing lost or missing teeth. These dental appliances offer a more stable and stronger base for other dental appliances to be fixed onto so you will have a more confident smile. If you want to know more about dental implants you can see this article. What you may want to know is the different types of dental implants so you’ll have a much better idea as to which type of dental implant is perfect for you.

Endosteal Dental Implants

This type of dental implant happens to be the most common today. Just think of a screw that will be threaded through gums and into your jawbone. This is the simplest description of an endosteal dental implant. The ‘dental screw’ is actually made of titanium.

These special “tooth screws” will take the place of the root of the missing tooth. As such, the way in which the implant is designed should have two very important surface features. First, it must have what dentists call a rugose topography. This is like having a really rough surface so that bone cells and tissues will settle on these surfaces, allowing the dental implant to be integrated into the bone tissue. It is like creating a surface upon which bone tissues can attach to so that osseo integration can take place.

Second, the surface of the implant touching or in contact with the gums should have a shiny and smooth topography. Gum tissues are very delicate tissues compared to bone. If the surface of the implant is as rough as having rugose topography, there’s a tendency that the surrounding gum tissue will get irritated and result in inflammation or gingivitis. The purpose of this smooth and shiny surface is to allow gum tissues to cover the space that will be formed between the implant, the bone, and the gum. It forms a plug to protect the tissues underneath building around the implant.

Over time, both bone and gum tissues form a seal around the implant so that it becomes an integral part of your jaw. This can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, even up to a year depending on how well osseointegration has taken place. Only with complete osseointegration can a prosthetic abutment and dental crown be placed in and over the implant, respectively. The prosthetic abutment serves as a bridge between the implant and the dental crown.

Endosteal implants are perfect for individuals with good jawbone density as well as the absence of other jaw problems.

Subperiosteal Dental Implants

For individuals who may have reduced bone density in their affected jaws or those who simply do not want to undergo an extensive procedure to augment the jawbone prior to the insertion of an endosteal dental implant, the subperiosteal implant should be a worthy option.

This type of dental implant still requires surgery as the device will have to be implanted on the jawbone and not in the jawbone. As such, the gums will still have to be cut open so that the implant can be easily placed over the jawbone. Once this has been achieved, the gum is sutured back and the gum tissues allowed to bond with the dental implant.

It’s like having a clamp on your jawbone and covered only by your gums. Many dentists no longer use this type of dental implant because of issues of stability since the implant is only ‘clamped’ onto the jawbone and not really ‘screwed’ in the bone.

Dental Mini Implants

These are similar to endosteal implants except that they generally thinner, often resemble a nail rather than a fat screw. The procedure is similar as well. Because the device is thinner, it is often used in the replacement of missing lateral incisors since these teeth are usually the narrowest among the teeth.

Dental mini implants are also indicated in the stabilization of mobile dentures especially among the elderly who may have issues with chewing. These can also be used as temporary implants while waiting for the jawbone to reach a certain level of density and strength necessary for endosteal implantation.

Dental implants are exceptional devices that help you regain confidence after you’ve lost your tooth.